Vikings vs Chargers preseason week 3: 5 things to watch for
By Adam Carlson
#3: More looks for Cordarrelle Patterson
By now, Cordarrelle Patterson has established himself as one of the top kick return specialists in the NFL. However, it is easy to forget that he can also do some fantastic things when the offense can get the ball in his hands.
Last week, the Minnesota Vikings called some plays to specifically get Patterson involved. The results were successful, but there is a big part of that strategy that still hasn’t proven whether or not Patterson can contribute on a regular basis at wide receiver.
First, he’ll have to show to be a more willing run blocker, as the offense is based around letting Adrian Peterson gain yards on the ground. Second, he’ll have to prove he can run proper routes, get separation, and make catches.
These aren’t the kind of questions that teams should have about a player during their fourth year in the league. But with the Vikings dragging their feet on finding out whether or not they want Patterson to be a bigger part of the offense, they have put his entire future with the franchise up in the air.
Next: #4: U.S. Bank Stadium